The State Board of Education last week approved revised math standards for grades K-8 and also cleared the way for two lab schools to open this fall, 14 new charter schools to open in fall 2018 and for high schools to offer advanced courses developed by Cambridge University. 

The revisions to the K-8 Mathematics Standard Course of Study, which will be implemented beginning in the 2018-19 school year, were developed after extensive involvement of educators from North Carolina schools and districts and external review by educators from Kentucky, Minnesota, Ohio, Oklahoma and Utah. The Department of Public Instruction will follow an approach currently underway with revised standards for Math 1, 2 and 3 to support teachers in their use of the K-8 standards.

The board approved the revised standards by a narrow margin, with several members raising objections that the more rigorous standards could widen the achievement gap for minority students and leave teachers and parents unprepared to provide the kind of support needed to help students meet the revised standards. 

In a related step, the board directed State Superintendent Mark Johnson to work with DPI staff to review the board’s strategic plan with respect to improving educational equity and closing the achievement gap. They asked that he report back to the board in October. 

The advanced Cambridge International Examination courses, similar to Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses in depth and breadth, will be offered in Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools. The courses will offer another opportunity for North Carolina students to take college-level coursework and earn post-secondary credit.

The complete list of this month’s Board actions is available on the Board’s website. The Board’s June agendas as well as supporting executive summaries also are available online by clicking on the SBE Meetings tab.

The State Board of Education approved revised K-8 mathematics standards at its June 1 meeting. The new standards will go in effect for the first time in North Carolina classrooms in the 2018-19 school year. Student assessments given in 2018-19 will be aligned to the revised standards. During the 2017-18 school year, professional development and supporting materials will be developed and distributed statewide.

The development of the revised standards have been underway since November 2016. NCDPI staff members began with a data review and followed with three drafts informed by teams of classroom teachers, public comments and surveys. More than 7,000 educators and 830 community members and parents provided survey feedback or participated in focus groups.

The third draft was presented to the State Board in May along with examples of the revisions that were made. In summary, 16 standards have major changes, 173 standards have a minor change, 19 standards stayed the same, four were removed, and 20 standards were integrated into others. Three new standards were added. Revisions were focused on content, vertical alignment, clarity and providing grade- appropriate expectations. 

The revised standards are available online.

A group of local school superintendents has worked in conjunction with NCDPI accountability staff to develop models for elementary, middle and high school accountability for North Carolina’s plan under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). These models were presented and discussed with the State Board of Education at a special planning session May 2. 

The proposed models include performance indicators (60 percent minimum) and student success indicators (40 percent maximum) for each level of schools. For elementary and middle schools, end-of-grade proficiency in English language arts, mathematics, and science continue to be key elements. New measures would include the progress of English language learners (a new federal requirement) and a student survey intended to capture student observations about school climate, safety and the use of digital learning tools. The survey would be piloted before it is used in the model. Student participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities also would be a student success indicator. 

At the high school level, the proposed model focuses on end-of-course proficiency and academic growth rates in English II and Math I, the 4-year cohort graduation rate, and English learning progress as well as biology proficiency and academic growth. To capture student success indicators, the model would use a college and career readiness index to include the attainment of industry credentials, IB diplomas, AP Exam scores of 3 or better, ACT Workkeys silver certificates, college credit, and ACT performance. A student survey on school safety/climate and digital learning and student participation in extracurricular and co-curricular activities also would be part of the high school model.

Board members and superintendents discussed these proposals and other details about the state’s ESSA plan. The plan is scheduled for submission to the U.S. Department of Education in September, so the plan will be finalized this summer to provide time for review by Gov. Roy Cooper before submission.

The N.C. Department of Public Instruction is pleased to announce the opportunity for North Carolina nonprofit organizations to submit an External Organization Profile (EOP) for possible inclusion on a posted list of vendors experienced in providing services in out-of-school-time programs for children.

The agency is required under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA to provide a list of prescreened external organizations. The term “external organization” is defined under Section 4201(b)(4) of ESSA as a nonprofit organization with a record of success in running or working with before- and after-school (or summer recess) programs and activities. Or, in the case of a community where there is no such organization, a nonprofit organization in the community that enters into a written agreement or partnership with an organization with a record of success to receive mentoring and guidance in running or working with before and after school (or summer recess) programs and activities. 

For more information and to access the EOP template, please click here. The deadline to respond is 5 p.m., Friday, June 30. If you have any questions, please contact NCDPI Federal Program Monitoring and Support staff at 919.807.3957.

Congratulations to Hertford Grammar School (Perquimans County Schools) Principal Jason Griffin, who recently was named 2017 Wells Fargo North Carolina Principal of the Year.

State Superintendent Mark Johnson said Griffin exemplifies the qualities of leadership essential for helping teachers excel and students achieve. “Jason makes smart use of data to work with his teachers to personalize learning for all students. He delegates to help his teachers grow as leaders themselves, and he works to provide them with innovative strategies to improve teaching and learning for students.”

As Wells Fargo Principal of the Year, Griffin receives $3,000 for personal use and $3,000 for his school. He also receives professional development and resources supporting global awareness in the curriculum for his staff, thanks to Education First Tours, and a custom-made NC Principal of the Year signet ring from Jostens Inc.

While continuing to lead his school next year, Wells Fargo will furnish him with a stipend to travel across the state as an ambassador for education. He will serve as a member of the State Superintendent’s Principals’ Advisory Committee, as an advisor to the State Board of Education and also to the board of directors for the NC Public School Forum.

The other regional principal of the year finalists for 2017 were:
* Southeast: Maria Johnson, Northside High (Onslow County Schools);
* North Central: Kiley Brown, Efland-Cheeks Global Elementary (Orange County Schools);
* Sandhills: Mary Hemphill, I. Ellis Johnson Elementary (Scotland County Schools);
* Piedmont-Triad: Jusmar Maness, Balfour Elementary (Asheboro City Schools);
* Southwest: Amy Rhyne, East Iredell Elementary (Iredell-Statesville Schools);
* Northwest: Jeffrey Isenhour, Bunker Hill High (Catawba County Schools); and
* Western: Doris Sellers, A.C. Reynolds High (Buncombe County Schools).

Regional winners will each receive $1,000 for personal use and $1,000 for their schools. 

Profile Videos for the 2017 NC Principal of the Year and Regional Finalists Online

Profile videos for North Carolina’s 2017 Wells Fargo Principal of the Year Jason Griffin and the regional finalists are available on the N.C. Department of Public Instruction YouTube page.

Congratulations to students from Clarkton School of Discovery (Bladen County Schools) and Polk County Early College (Polk County Schools) for taking top honors in the N.C. Department of Transportation and the Carolinas Associated General Contractors annual Model Bridge Building Competition. One middle school and one high school were selected for recognition.

Other winners were: 2nd place: NC-MSEN Pre-College (Wake County); Franklin Academy (Wake County) 3rd place: Polk County Middle (Polk County Schools); North Moore High (Moore County Schools) 4th place: Elise Middle (Moore County Schools); Camden Early College (Camden County Schools).

The event’s goal is to encourage students to develop math and science skills in addition to demonstrating critical thinking, problem solving, and communication and research skills.